1 week, 2 days old

Maya has passed the week mark with only a slight medical stumble. On Friday, during the blizzard, we took her to the pediactric doctor and were told she had lost an ounce in the past 3 days, and looked fairly jaundiced. This, combined with the information that Maya was sleeping almost all of the time, caused some alarm for the Dr. She suggested we supplement each feeding with some formula, and also go to CCMC (Connecticut Children's Medical Center) in Hartford to get her checked out.

Off we went in the blizzard - and boy was it slick! We do not have snow tires on our AWD mini-van, and the ABS brakes were kicking in like crazy at every stop. We had some close calls stopping. We drove up and over Avon Mt. with no issues ourselves, but cars were stuck all over. I hope everyone who thinks "all-season" tires mean "work well in winter"
learned a lesson. They suck in snow. Next year I will even buy snow tires for the AWD van for sure.

So we arrived at the hospital and were put into a "pod" to await blood tests. The afternoon was wearing on and I needed to pick up Brianna, so I headed out while Victoria waited with Maya. It took me over 2 hours to get from Hartford back home, and the snow was over 6 inches by then. I picked up Brianna and we went back to CCMC where Maya and Victoria were still in the pod. Her blood tests came back showing a jaundice level of 15, well under the level of 20 that concerns doctors. However her red-blood cell count was high, indication some dehydration, so they gave her 70cc of IV fluid. Victoria said it was heart-wrenching to watch them insert the catheter while Maya screamed. I am glad to have missed that part.

Brianna was all kisses for Maya and has been so far. She can hold her with supervision and loves to help with diaper changes. She is getting so mature! She gives her hugs and kisses at night and announces loudly for all of us to come look when she opens her eyes. Since the hospital Friday she still mostly sleeps. People tell us this is a blessing but the doctors say the opposite. She seems healthy otherwise - we will have to keep monitoring her and are scheduled for a doctor visit on Monday to check her weight again.

Also - for more pictures you can go to http://flickr.com/photos/gorskipics and click on any of the sets.

Oh yes - the operation for the CCAM. We are scheduled to have it performed on the 4th of May down at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. So far no interference from the CCAM, but removing it will allow full normal lung capacity to develop and will remove the risk of malignant cancer development in the future from the tumor.